Dog wobbly teeth – when should I see a vet?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Book a vet visit

This is not usually an emergency on its own – contact your vet if it lasts, gets worse or your dog seems unwell in any other way. In adult dogs, a wobbly tooth can be a sign something is wrong; in puppies, baby teeth start being replaced by adult teeth at around four months.

When to contact a vetWhat to do now

Contact a vet if you see any of this

  • A wobbly tooth in an adult dog
  • Pain, especially when eating
  • Trouble eating or dropping food

What you can do now

  1. Contact your vet
  2. Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see
  3. Take a photo or short video to show the vet
  4. Keep fresh water available
  5. Let your dog rest somewhere calm

Don't

  • Do not give any human medicine
  • Do not wait if it gets worse

What it can mean

Wobbly teeth in an adult dog can be a sign that something is wrong.[1] They can be linked with tooth and gum disease, injuries or tumours in the mouth.[1] Wobbly teeth can be very painful, especially when eating.[1]

Other signs that can come with it

  • A tooth at an odd angle
  • Wanting to eat but then walking away from food
  • Drooling
  • Pawing at the mouth
  • Only eating on one side of the mouth

Possible causes

  • Tooth and gum disease
  • Injuries
  • Tumours in the mouth
  • Dropped canines
  • Baby teeth
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

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Common questions

Should adult dogs have wobbly teeth?

No. Adult dogs should not have wobbly teeth; if you notice one, it can be a sign something is wrong.[1]

Can puppies have wobbly teeth?

Puppies start losing their baby teeth at around four months old as adult teeth replace them.[1]

Can wobbly teeth hurt?

Yes. Wobbly teeth can be very painful, especially when eating.[1]

Sources

  1. PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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Other symptoms in dogs

Ate Something HarmfulBad BreathBlindnessBlood in stoolBottom ProblemsConjunctivitisConstipationCoughingDandruffDiarrhoeaDroolingEar problems